The end of the snow, Luca's hairy birthday cake and a smattering of sun!

Here are the last couple of "winter" photos. There's still a smattering of snow around and some local ski resorts are still functioning but as temperatures rise our thoughts are definitely switching to spring and even summer activities. Time to dig out the sun hats and start stocking up on suncream. Hurrah!



A wall of snow in Limone with Amy giving some idea of height!

Tanya wanted to go home in this beautiful red fiat 500. So did I! Our silver skoda just doesn't compare. Though it would have been a struggle to fit all five of us in this one!

Luca requested a "spider" cake for his birthday this year. So that's what he got! He also had a party at home with 7 of his school chums. Totally manic (despite me thinking I had it well organised) and too many tears on Luca's part. Needless to say, next year will be bowling with one or two friends, max!

Last summer we didn't go to the coast once. Totally my fault as I couldn't face 1 1/2 hour car journey with one 6 year old and two toddlers, nightmare finding parking space, stressing about suncream, sand in the sandwiches, no public toilets etc, etc. You know how it is?! This year, however, Manolo is determined to have some serious beach time and so far we've had two relatively stress free trips in February and March. Unfortunately, I didn't take the camera on the second trip (just one more thing to carry and get sand in) and there was a wind festival going on. The sky was filled with kites of every size, shape and colour including a giant green gecko, a very long serpent and a humungous multicoloured manta ray.

No pictures of the kites but here's a couple of our little mites!

Too cold to be on the beach? Not for us semi-british!

Luca was able to throw stones to his heart's content!

Amy is now an expert at smiling for the camera!

So what if it's February? We're at the beach so we have to have ice-cream!

And finally........

Said to Amy and Tanya whilst they were playing on the bed "You're a funny pair!"

Amy immediately fired back "She's not a pear! She's Tanya!"!!!

Amy: "What's the colour your hair Mummy? Dark blue maybe?"!!

Amy, whilst sitting on the toilet "I'm doing 'Mamma mia!' because the poo's not coming!"!!